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We treat here a simple molecule model \index{molecule} to underline the importance of symmetry using \index{symmetry} in the study of molecules. Water molecule H0 belongs to point groups called . This group is compound by four symmetry operations: identity , rotation of angle , and two plane symmetries and with respect to two planes passing by the rotation axis of the operation (see figure figmoleceau).

figmoleceau

Water molecule. Symmetry group corresponds to the set of operations: identity , Rotation of angle around vertical axis, symmetry with respect to plane perpendicular to paper sheet and symmetry with respect to sheet's plane.

Nomenclature of symmetry groups in chemistry. The occurence of symmetry operations is successively tested, starting from the top of the tree. The tree is travelled hrough depending on the answers of questions, "o" for yes, and "n" for no. labels a rotations of angle , denotes symmetry operation with respect to a horizontal plane (perpendicular the axis), denotes a symmetry operation with respect to the vertical plane (going by the axis) and the inversion. Names of groups are framed.

each of these groups can be characterized by tables of "characters" that define possible irreducible representations \index{irreducible representation} for this group. Character table for group is:

tabchar

Character group for group .}

1

1

1

1

1

1

-1

-1

1

-1

1

-1

1

-1

-1

1

All the representations of group are one dimensional. There are four representations labelled , , and . In water molecule case, space in nine dimension . Indeed, each atom is represented by three coordinates. A representation corresponds here to the choice of a linear combination of vectors such that for each element of the symmetry group , one has:

Character table provides the trace, for each operation of the representation matrix . As all representations considered here are one dimensional, character is simply the (unique) eigenvalue of . Figure figmodesmol sketches the nine representations of group for water molecule. It can be seen that space spanned by the vectors can be shared into nine subspaces invariant by the operations . Introducing representation sum ([ma:group:Jones90]), considered representation can be written as a sum of irreducible representations:

figmodesmol

Eigenmodes of molecule. Vibrating modes are framed. Other modes correspond to rotations and translations.

It appears that among the nine modes, there are \index{mode} three translation modes, and three rotation modes. Those mode leave the distance between the atoms of the molecule unchanged. Three actual vibration modes are framed in figure figmodesmol. Dynamics is in general defined by:

where is the vector defining the state of the system in the basis. Dynamics is then diagonalized in the coordinate system corresponding to the three vibration modes. Here, symmetry consideration are sufficient to obtain the eigenvectors. Eigenvalues can then be quickly evaluated once numerical value of coefficients of are known.

This case corresponds to the study of H molecule ([#References|references]). The Born-Oppenheimer approximation we use here consists in assuming that protons are fixed (movement of protons is slow with respect to movement of electrons).

Remark: This problem can be solved exactly. However, we present here the variational approximation that can be used for more complicated cases.

The LCAO (Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals) method we introduce here is a particular case of the variational method. It consists in approximating the electron wave function by a linear combination of the one electron wave functions of the atom\footnote{That is: the space of solution is approximated by the subspace spanned by the atom wave functions.}.

More precisely, let us choose as basis functions the functions and that are orbitals centred on atoms and respectively. This approximation becomes more valid as R is large (see figure figH2plusS).

Molecule H: Choice of the functions associated to each of the hydrogen atoms as basis used for the variational approach.}

figH2plusS

Problem's symmetries yield to write eigenvectors as:

Notation using indices and is adopted, recalling the parity of the functions: for {\it gerade}, that means even in German and for {\it ungerade} that means odd in German. Figure figH2plusLCAO represents those two functions.

Functions and are solutions of variational approximation's problem on the basis of the two orbitals of the hydrogen atoms.}

figH2plusLCAO

Taking into account the hamiltonian allows to rise the degeneracy of the energies as shown in diagram of figure figH2plusLCAOener.

Energy diagram for molecule deduced from LCAO method using orbitals of the hydrogen atoms as basis.}

In this case, consideration of symmetries allow to find eigensubspaces that simplify the spectral problem. Those considerations are related to point groups representation theory. When atoms of a same molecule are located in a plane, this plane is a symmetry element. In the case of a linear molecule, any plane going along this line is also symmetry plane. Two types of orbitals are distinguished:

Definition:

Orbitals are conserved by reflexion with respect to the symmetry plane.

Definition: Orbitals change their sign in the reflexion with respect to this plane.

Let us consider a linear molecule. For other example, please refer to ([#References|references]).

Example:Molecule BeH . We look for a wave function in the space spanned by orbitals and of the beryllium atom Be and by the two orbitals of the two hydrogen atoms. Space is thus four dimension (orbitals and are not used) and the hamiltonian to diagonalize in this basis is written in general as a matrix . Taking into account symmetries of the molecule considered allows to put this matrix as {\it block diagonal matrix}. Let us choose the following basis as approximation of the state space: \{\}. Then symmetry considerations imply that orbitals have to be:

Those bindings are delocalized over three atoms and are sketched at figure figBeH2orb.

Study of molecule by the LCAO method. The basis chosen is the two orbitals of hydrogen atoms.}

figBeH2orb

We have two binding orbitals and two anti--binding orbitals. Energy diagram is represented in figure figBeH2ene.In the fundamental state, the four electrons occupy the two binding orbitals.

Energy diagram for molecule by the LCAO method. The basis chosen is the two orbitals of hydrogen atoms.}

figBeH2ene

Experimental study of molecules show that characteritics of bondings depend only slightly on on nature of other atoms. The problem is thus simplified in considering molecular orbital as being dicentric, that means located between two atoms. Those orbitals are called hybrids.

Example: let us take again the example of the BeH molecule. This molecule is linear. This geometry is well described by the hybridation. Following hybrid orbitals are defined:

Instead of considering the basis \{\}, basis \{\} is directly considered. Spectral problem is thus from the beginning well advanced.